Gathering apparatus



March 9,1926.

H. C. ESTEP GATHEBING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 9 1926.

H. C. ESTEP GATHERING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1925 5 Sheets-Shet 2 March 9 1926i4 `i 1,57%@

.. H, c. EsTEP GATHERINQ APPARATUS Filed June E 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3m van fo/c mfg im@ Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

- UNITED vSTAT-ES HENRY c. EsrEr, or INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA.r

. GATHERING APPARATUS.

Application led June 13, 1925. Serial No. 36,921.

To all 'wlw/m t may concern v Be it known that I, HENRY C. Es'rnr, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Indiana, in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newk and useful Improvements in Gathering Apparatus'of which the following is a specilication, reference being had to the accompanyingv drawings. c

This invention relates to gathering apparatus and has relation more particularly to an apparatus of this kind especially designed and adapted for use in coal mines and more especially `in connection with low veins.

It is an object of the invention to provide an"apparatus of this character which is caused to enter the recess in the facey or breast after the shot and to travel along said recess whereby the loosened material within the recess is gathered with a minimum of labor and cost.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character wherein the gathering medium comprises an endless member provided at points therealong with outstanding lingers, said endless member traversing a fixed path of travel. 1 y

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is of relatively low height, `approximately fifteen inches, and which is constructed in a manner whereby the movable parts comprised therein are driven by a power unit carried by the apparatus.

The invention consists in the details of Construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved gathering apparatus whereby certain panying drawings, whereinzl Figure 1 1s a view 1n top plan illustrating an apparatus constructed in accordance with .an embodiment of my invention;

Figure ,2 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional view taken substantially kon the line 2-2 of Figure 1, with certain of the parts in 'I elevation c Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the structure as illustrated in Figure l, a side board being removed; i

Figure l is a fragmentary view partlyin plan and partly in horizontal section of the rear portion of the structure as herein set forth; i

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a view partly in sect-ion and partly in plan and of a somewhat diagrammatic character illustrating the assembly wherebythe apparatus is initially entered withinfa recess;

Figure 7 is a. view similar to Figure/6 illustrating 'the arrangement whereby the apparatus is caused to traverse the recess.

As disclosed in the accompanying draw.

four inches high. This beam' B is bolted or otherwise suitably lixed to the-plate P.

The lrear portion of the plate P hassecured thereto the transversely disposed parallel I beams A bolted lor otherwise secured in applied position with thelcentral portion of each of said beams A cut away at their` lower part to bridge the beam B."Each of these I beams Aare substantially' twelve inches or more in height. Y

. Resting upon and suitably securedto the beams A isa supplemental plate S having' its forward end portion 2 disposed downwardly on a predetermined incline and riveted, as at 3, or otherwise secured to the forward portion of the plate P. lThe plate lS Yextends a desired distance beyond the rear of thebeams A and the horizontal portion of the plate S hasits side margins defined by the upstanding side boards 4. V.

Rotatably supported by the rear portion of the plate S is a vertically disposed shaft 5, the Vsame being `also operatively engaged with the bearing bracket 6 secured to the plate S. Fixed to the upper portion of the shaft is a sprocket 7 around which passes the chain 8. This chain 8 is forwardly disw posed and is operatively engaged with a sprocket 9 carried by the upper portion of` t-he vertically disposed shaft 10. This shaft 10 iis rotatably supported bythe plate S and the beam B, the same being provided with suitable bearings 11 for the shaft. The

lshaft 10 below the-'plate S has fixed thereto the worm wheel 12 meshing with a worm 14 carried by the drive shaft 15 driven b y the motor M herein disclosed as ofan electrical Y type, said motor M and shaft 15 being supported by the rear portion of the plate "P toone side of the beam B.

The lower portion of the shaft 5 yhas fixed thereto a relatively large sprocket 1G around which passes an endless chain `17 comprised in the gathering medium proper. This-endlessichain extends forwardly of the plate S along the inclined portion 2 and forwardly of the` plate Pand around the'sprocketl rotatably supported by the forward end and inclined plates 21` having their in,

ner portions continuedk by the upstanding anges 22 riveted or otherwise secured one 'to the other, as at 23. These plates 21 provide means to prevent coal or kindred inaterial being gathered passing fromone sijde of the apparatus to the other. y y

Rotatably supported by the rear beainA andy extendingtrarsversely of the apparatus is a shaft 24 having fixed thereto the worm wheel 25 engaging the worm 2G alsoftixed to the y' shaft 15. On each end portionofthe shaft 24 is` loosely mounted a `drum 27 adapted to be locked `to said shaft for"r o`tation therewith through the medium of a `convenn tional clutch mechanism 28 or to have its rotation retarded or controlled by a convention-al brake mechanism 29.

y Coacting with each of the drums 27 and adapted to be wound thereupon is a cable orkindred exible member 30. Suitably positioned below and in advance" of `each of I"the'dru'rns'27 are the pulleys'or blocks 31. After a shot has been made, suitable jacks 32 are arranged "wit'ninthe room adjacent an end Vof the pocket or recess lari-dat oppopocket.

site sidesof the apparatus with the forward end portion ofthe apparatus adjacent the face'or breast as indicatedby broken lines in Figure 6. Both of the drums 27 are then clutched to 'the shaft 24k causing the cables to wind there-around, said cablesbe- 'ingdisposed around the forward pulleys 31 and anchored to the jacks 32. This will re- 1 sult in the apparatus being caused to move within the recess or pocket. After this adw justment of the apparatus, one ofthe 'jacks 32 is moved to a position as adjacentthe opposite or remote end of the recess or `pocket' asis possible and secured there ata point- Vjin alignment withthe adjacent forward "pulley 31. The second jack 32 is placedat the opposite side of the machine relatively close Y to the machine and inalignment*with'the rear pulleys 31. The drum "27 adjacent the first named jack is then clutchedto the shaft 15"and the drum 27 at the opposite side-of the apparatus unclutched butfbralredso `as to insure theapparatus movingtransverselyV of itself in a direction along the recess or was inclined toward the first namcdjack at any time, this inclination ,may be overcome by bringing the drunl 27 adj acentthe second jack to a standstill so that the operation of the first drum will'tend to swing the appa- If therear end of the, apparatus j ratus bodily about the pivot. `representedby Y the rear pulley overwhiclr-the cable passing to the `second Jack is passed. During "this period the gathering medium is in operation resulting in the loosened coal being carried `out of the vein and `discharged upon a'wellknown ty e of room conveyor. Then 'it' is desired to withdraw the apparatus from the recess or pocket, both lcablesare disposed around the rear pulleys 81 with both `ofthe drums 27 clutched to the shaft'2t.` This will result in an outward travel' ofthe apparatus. I also "find it of advantage tol`c`onfine`the motor M, shaft 15, andthe gears 12, 14,115

vand 16, within a housing 33fwhich is adapt vedto be filled with oil-and thereby assuring effectiveV operation fo"f these parts.

It will, of course, be understood that this apparatus will operate to' lthe right or tothe left without the necessity of making any changev whatsoever` in the mechanism, it" being y revcrse'themotor. .y

From the foregoing description it is thought tobe obviousfthat a gathering apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention "is particularly well adapted for luse byreason ofthe convenience and facility only necessaryto ehangethe cables and `-with `which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious thatniyiir vention is susceptible off some change `and modification withouhdeparting from the principles `and Aspirit "thereof `and )for this `reason ["do not :Wish to be understood as* limiting myself *to `the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

l claim l. A gathering apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a base plate, transversely disposed beams mounted upon the rear portion of said base plate, a supplemental plate mounted upon the beams, tho forward portion of said supplemental plate being downwardly disposed and substantially merging with the forward portion of the first named plate, an endless gathering medium traversing the forward portion of the first named plate and the supplemen` tal plate, and means for operating. said gathering medium.

2. A gathering` apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a base plate, transversely disposed beams mounted upon the rear portion of said base plate, a supplemental plate mounted upon the beams, the forward portion of said supplemental plate being downwardly disposed and substantially merging with the forward portion of the first named plate, a sprocket wheel supported above the supplemental plate, a second sprocket wheel supported above the forward portion of the first named plate, an endless gathering medium operatively engaged with both of the sprockets, and a driving means operatively connected with one of said sprockets.

3. A gathering apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a base plate, transversely disposed beams mounted upon the rear portion of said base plate, a supplemental plate mounted upon the beams, the forward portion of said supplemental v plate being downwardly disposed and substantially merging with the forward portionv of the first named plate, a sprocket wheel supported above the supplemental plate, a second sprocket wheel supported above the forward portion of the first named plate, an endless gathering medium operatively engaged with both of the sprockets, and a driving means operatively connected with the first named sprocket..

4l. A gathering apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a base plate, transversely disposed beams mounted upon the rear portion of said base plate, a supplemental plate mounted upon the beams, the forward portion of said 'supplemental plate being downwardly disposed and substantially merging with the forward portion of the first named plate, a sprocket wheel supported above the supplemental plate, a second sprocket wheel supported above the forward portion of the first named plate, an endless gathering medium operatively engaged with both of the sprockets, and a driving means carried by the first named plate and operatively engaged with one of Said sprockets.

5. A gathering apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a base plate, ltransversely disposed beams mounted upon the rear portion of said base plate, a supplemental plate mounted upon the beams,

the forward portion of said supplemental plate being downwardly -disposed and sub- Y supplemental plate by the first named plate, the forward bortion` of the supplemental plate being inclined down to the first named plate, an endless gathering medium traversing the forward portion of the first named plate along the supplemental plate, and a guiding means Vfor the endless gathering medium extending along the forward portion of the first named plate and upwardly op the inclined portion of the supplemental ate. p 7 A gathering apparatus of the class described comprising a base plate, a beam se-` cured thereto at substantially its transverse center and extending lengthwise thereof, an endless gathering member moving over the base plate at opposite sides of the beam, means for moving said endless gathering member laterally in Veither direction, and upstanding plates' operatively supported by the side-portions of the beam and inwardly inclined, the inner port-ions of said plates being connected.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HENRY o. n'srnr.

spaced therefrom, means for supporting said 

